Machine for marking or cutting lenses.



No. mp4s. Patent ed May 27, I902.

c. w. HUWLAND. MACHINE FOR MARKING 0R CUTTING LENSES.

A lication filed Oct. 11, 1901.

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N0. 70|,046. Patented May 27, I902.

C. W. HOWLAND.

MACHINE FOR MARKING 0R CUTTINGLENSES.

(Application filed 0e17, 11, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES: INVENT R aZm Mg M f g 5 g n4 TTORNE YS.

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Patented May 27, I902. C. W. HUWLAND. MACHINE FUR. MARKING 0B CUTTINGLENSES.

(Application filed Oct. 11 1901.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

UNTTEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OHAUNOEY \V. IIOWLAND, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARDOPTICAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MACHlNE FOR MARKING OR CUTTING LENSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,046, dated May 27,1902. Application filed October 11, 1901. fierial No. 78,350. (Nomodel.)

the State of New York, have invented'new' and useful Improvements inMachines for Marking or Cutting Lenses, of which the following, taken inconnection withthe accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for cutting 'ormarking lenses or similar regular or irregular forms or patterns.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby different sizesof the same form of lenses or similar articles may be cut or markedwithout changing the position,size, or shape of the lens-form.

Another object is to provide adrivin g mechanism for the rotarylens-support comprising universaljoint, whereby the support may be movedlaterally relatively to the cutter without liability of changing theangle or direction of the optical axis of the lens relative to themechanical axes of the lens-form.

A further object is to provide a rotary cut-' for connected to the framein such manner that the cutting edge of the cutter is always in a planesubstantially parallel with the forming line or surface of thelens-form.

Another object is to provide means whereby the cutter or marker may beadjusted at different angles relative to the supporting bed or surfaceof the lens.

A still further object is to mount the lensform in such manner that itmay be readily removed or placed in position when desired withoutremoving or displacing any of the other parts of the machine and wherebythe mechanical axes of the lens-form are caused to assume a definite orknown position rela-' tive to suitable graduations or indicators uponthe lens-support; and another object is to provide means for shiftingthe position of the lens-support relative to the cutter and lensform forcutting the different sizes of lenses,

said means having graduations whereby the support may be set to cut anypredetermined size of lens. I

To this end the inventionconsists in the combination, construction,andarrangement of the component parts of a lens cutting or of thecutting of a lens from a blank.

marking machine, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in theclaims.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively top plan andfront elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig.

3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the device seen in Figs. 1and 2. Fig. 4 is a top plan of the detachedsliding bed, thelenssupport,and its driving mechanism mounted thereon, showingparticularly the operation Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken,respectively, on lines 5 5 and 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional viewtaken on line 7 7 of Fig. 2, showing particularly the lens-form and themeans for controlling the movement of the cutter. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of the detached catch for holding the lens-form inposition. Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts inall the views.

In the drawings I have shown a frame 1, upon which is mounted a slidingbed 2, means for reciprocating the sliding bed 2, an oscillating arm orbracket 3, a rotary sleeve or spindle 4, having a driving member 5, anda rotary shaft 6, actuated by the driving member 5. The frame 1 may beof any desired form, size, or construction, being shown as consisting ofa base 7, an upright standard 8 projecting upwardly from the base andhaving its upper end provided with a 1aterally-ex tendingarm 9. Theupper face of the base 7 is substantially horizontal and is providedwith suitable ways 10 for receiving and supporting the sliding bed 2,said base being also provided with an opening 11 in one of its sidewalls for receiving a lever 12, presently described.

Projecting from one side of the base 7 and preferably formed integraltherewith is an arm or bracket 13, having a vertical opening 14 forreceiving and supporting the means, presently described, forreciprocating the sliding bed 2.

The base 7 is preferably formed hollow for reducing the cost of materialand also for receiving suitable bearings on the sliding bed previouslymentioned.

The laterally-extending arm 9 is provided with substantially parallelvertical openings and 16, the opening 15 forming a bearing for thesleeve 4, and the opening 16 is adapted to receive the shaft 6. Theframe 1 is also provided with vertical bearings 17 18, the bearing 17projecting upwardly from the upper face of the base 7, and the bearing18 extends laterally from the arm 9, these bearings 17 and 18 beingarranged to receive and support the swinging arm or bracket 3. The armor bracket 3 is provided with an upright shaft or spindle 19, having itslower and upper ends journaled, respectively, in the bearings 17 and 18,the lower bearing 17 being provided with a spring 20, interposed betweenthe lower end of the shaft 19 and the bottom wall of the socket 17 foryieldingly supporting the arm or bracket 3 and holding the same. in itsextreme upper position for the purpose hereinafter described, it beingunderstood that the bracket 3 and its supporting-shaft 19 are soarranged as to permit the bracket to be moved downwardly against theaction of the spring 20.

The sleeve 4 is revolubly mounted in the opening 15 and preferablyextends above and beneath the opposite ends of the said opening, thelower end of the sleeve being provided with an annular flange 21,preferably formed integral with said sleeve, and its upper end isadapted to receive and support the gear or driving member 5, said flange21 and the driving member 5 bein g engaged with the upper and lowerfaces of the arm 9 for preventing endwise movement of the sleeve 4 inits bearing. This sleeve 4 is also provided with a lengthwise socket 22,preferably open at both ends for receiving a substantially vertical stemor spindle 23, the lower end of said socket 22 being reduced in diameterfor forming a shoulder 24, and the upper end is provided with aremovable plug or bushing 25,'prefer'ably screw-threaded and having acentral opening 26 for receiving the upper end of the stem 'or spindle23. This stem or spindle23 is provided with an annular shoulder orcollar 27, normally held in engagement with the shoulder 24 by asuitable spring 28, interposed between the upper face of the collar- 27and the lower face of the bushing 25.

, The stem or spindle 23 is arranged to revolve in. the socket 22 and isalso adapted to move endwise against the action of the spring 28.Secured to the lower end of the stem or spindle 23 is a flexibleconnection, as a spring 29, carrying a suitable lens-holder 30, thelower. end .of' said holder being formed with a yielding or rubber tip31 for engaging the lens.-

Aspreviously stated, the operating member 5 consists of a gear securedto the upper end of the. sleeve 4, being provided with a suitablehandpiece 32, by which said gear is rotated. I

'The shaft 6 is provided with a pinion 33 at its upper end, meshing withthe gear 5, and the lower end of said shaft is connected by ashaft-section 34 to a suitable pinion 35, revolubly mounted in a bearing36 in the slidhub or shank 38, inserted in the bearing 37,

the means for effecting this vertical movement consisting of the lever12, which is pivoted at its intermediate portion at 41, one end beingprovided with a suitable handpiece and its other end being arranged toengage a hearing 42 upon the lower face of the hub or shank 38. Thisbearing 42 usually consists of a hardened ball inserted in a socket inthe lower end of the shank 38 and is held in position by crimping theadjacent portions of the hub or shank upon the ball, so that only asmall portion of the ball projects below the lower end of the hub orshank 38.

The lower end of the shaft 6 is provided with a spherical bearing 43,arranged in a socket 44 in the upper end of the section 34 and formedwith a slot 45 for receiving a pin 46, secured to the walls of thesocket 44. The lower end of the section 34 is similar to the lower endof the shaft 6, being provided with a spherical bearing 47,projectinginto a socket 48 in the upper face of the pinion 35 and havingan open-ended slot 49 for receiving a pin 50, secured to the pinion 35,

Detachably secured to the lower end of the sleeve 4 is a lens-form 51,having a groove 52 in its lower face, and its upper face is formed withan annular engaging shoulder 53. Secured to the upper face of theannular flange .21 is a semicircular spring 54, havinglaterally-projecting shoulders 55, which are arranged to engage theannular shoulders 53 for holding the lens-form in itsoperative-position, said spring being provided with upward projections56, adapted to be engaged by the fingers for compressing the spring andreleasing the shoulders 55 from engagement with the shoulders 53,whereupon the lensform may be removed. The gears 5 and 38 and thepinions 33 and 35 being respectively of the same size, it is evidentthat the rotation of the form 51 is synchronized with the part 38.

Any desired means may be employed for securing the spring 54 to theflange 21 of the sleeve 4, said spring being provided with an aperturedlug 57, adapted to receive a suitable screw (not illustrated) engagedwith the flange 21. This flange 21 is provided with studs or pins 58,which are adaptedto enter sockets 59, arranged diametrically opposite toeach other upon the major axis of the lensform for holding saidlens-form from rotary movement when placed in operative position.

The means for reciprocating the sliding bed 2 consists of a rotary plate59, having a shank journaled in the bearing 14 and having a crank-pin 59connected to the sliding bed by a link 61, said shank being providedwith a suitable handpiece 62, by which the plate may be rotated.

Mounted upon the arm or bracket 13 is a graduated scale 63, cooperatingwith the indicating line or marker 64 upon the rotary plate 59' forindicating the size of the lens to be out or marked.

Mounted upon the oscillating bracket 3 is a rock-shaft 65, having itslower end provided with a socket 66, in which is secured by a tight fita shank 67 carrying a cutter-support 68. This support 68 is pivotallymounted upon the lower end of the shank for permitting the adjustment ofthe cutter 69 to any desired angle relative to the surface of thelens-support 38, said cutter'support being held in position by asuitable clamping-screw 7 O. mit the cutter to be adjusted atsubstantially right angles to concave or convex surfaces of the lenses,the cutting edge of the cutter being always in a plane coincident withthe axis of the rock-shaft 65.

The connection between the stem or spindle 23 and the lens-holder 30 issimilar to the connection between the shaft 6 and section 34-that is,the adjacent ends of the said parts are connected by a ball-and-socketjoint and which permits the lateral movement of the lens-holder 30independently of the stem or spindle 23, the spring 29 serving to returnthe holder 30 to its normal position in alinement with said stem orspindle. It is thus evident that the holder 30 and stem 23 rotate withthe lens and its support and that even though the tip 31 is engaged withthe lens at one side of its center its universal connection with thestem 23 permits its eccentric movement and remains in engagement withthe lens at the same point during its rotation in the operation ofcutting or marking the lens.

I preferably employ a roller-cutter 69,which is journaled in the lowerend of the support 68, and, as previously stated, this support 68 ispivotally mounted upon the shank 67, be-

ing provided with a transverse slot for receiving the clamping screw 70,by which means the roller-cutter may be tilted at any desired angle withthe surface of the lens, so as to engage the lens at substantially rightangles with the surface to be cut or marked, this being a particularlyimportant feature of my invention, for the reason that it enables theoperator to readily cut with an ordinary roller-cutter any form ofconvex or concave lens. of the cutter in a plane substantially parallelwith the forming line or surface of the form, I provide the upper end ofthe rock-shaft with suitable studs or shoulders, in this instanceconsisting of a pair of rollers 71, arranged in close proximity to eachother and guided in the groove 52. Although this employment of a pair ofrollers is particularly The purpose of this adjustment is to per- Inorder to maintain the cutting edge I efficient in keeping the cuttingedge of the roller 69 in a plane parallel with the forming line orsurface of the form 51, it is evident that other means may be employedfor effecting this result-as, for instance, I may employ a grooved wheeloperating in conjunction with a flange form, the flange fitting thegroove, or I may employ two or more rollers in conjunction with a flangeform, or any other equivalent means may be used for oscillating therock-shaft 65 for the purpose described.

The driving-gear 5 is secured to the upper end of the sleeve 4 by asuitable set-screw 72, which permits the form 51 to be set at anydesired position, with its major axis in substantially the same verticalplane as the corresponding marks upon the lens-support 38. The uppersurface of the lens-support around the periphery of the pad 40 ispreferably graduated, and the pad 40 is rotatable in the recess 39 forpermitting its axial line 73, representing the optical axis of the lens,to be adj usted to any predetermined graduation.

In the operation of my invention the sliding bed is moved to the desiredposition for cutting the lens of a predetermined size, (indicated by thescale 63.) The handpiece 12 is then rocked to elevate the lens-supportand to force the lens-blank into engagement with the tip 31 and cutter69, said lens being held in this position and the lens-form andlenssupport are then rotated by means of the driving-gear 5 one or morerevolutions for the purpose of cutting or marking the blank in the formof a lens corresponding to the contour of the form 51. During thisrotation of the form and lens support the bracket carrying the cutter isoscillated toward and away from the vertical axis of the rotary form andlenssupport by reason of the engagement of the studs or rollers 71 withthe forming-surface of the lens-form,

It might be here stated that although a form has been used to move acutter-supporting arm away from the vertical axis ofthe form in which aspring or other device has been used to return the cutter-support, orrather to hold the same against the periphery of the form, I believemyself to be the first to provide a lens form whereby the cutter ismoved back and forth toward and away from the vertical axis of the form,according to which axis, either the major or minor axis, is presented tothe rollers or studs 71. During this rotation of the lens-form the shaft65 is rocked by means of the rollers 71 in order to keep the cuttingedge in a plane parallel with the forming-surface of the lensform. Whenthe lens-blank has been sufficiently cut or marked, the lever 12 isreleased, whereupon the lens-support 38 automatically returns to itsnormal position. The margin of the lens-blank outside of the mark or cutmay be then readily broken upon the line in the usual manner. Whendesired to remove the lens-form for the purpose of replacing it bylens-form is provided with a substantially central opening whichnormally receives the stem 23 and is sufficiently large to permit thelens-form to be readily removed, as described.

The operation of my invention will now be readily understood uponreference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings,and it will be noted that some change may be made in the mechanisms forcarrying out the various objects of my invention without departing fromthe spirit thereof. Therefore I do not limit myself to the preciseconstruction, combination, and arrangement shown and described.

Having described my invention, what I claim,-and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

1. In combination with a rotary support for the article to be cut ormarked and having an independent lateralsliding movement,

arotary form synchronized with the rotation of the support and havingparallel bearingsurfaces, a cutter or marker engaged with the articleand means engaged with said surfaces to move the cutter toward and awayfrom the axis of the form.

2. In combination, a laterally-slidable supporting member for thearticle to be cut or marked, a cutting or marking member, one of themembers being movable relatively to the other to cut or mark thearticle, a form having parallel-surfaces operating to control theposition of the cutter on the article, and means to keep the cuttingedge of the cutter in a plane tangential to the forming-line of theform.

3. A laterally-slidable support and a cutter or marker for the articleto be cut or marked, one of the parts being movable relatively to theother for cutting or marking the article, a form having parallelsurfaces operating to control the position of the cutter or marker, saidcutter or marker having an independent rocking movement to change thedirection of its axis, and means coacting with said surfaces to efiectsaid rocking movement of the cutter or marker for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with a form and a rotary support for the article to-be cut or marked, a cutter or marker, means cooperating with the formto move the cutter relative to the axis of rotation of the support, andmeans to vary the angle of the axis of the cutter relatively to thesurface of the article to be cut or marked for the purpose set forth.

5. A form and a laterally-sliding support for the article to be cut ormarked, the form having parallel bearing-surfaces, connections having auniversal joint therein to simultaneously rotate said parts, a cutter ormarker and additional means coacting with said surfaces to change theposition of the axis of one part relatively to the other.

6. A revoluble form and a revoluble support for the article to be cut ormarked, means to revolve the parts simultaneously, a cutter or marker,and additional means to move the support relatively to the axis ofrevolution of the form.

7. In a lens cutting or marking machine, a revoluble support for thelens, a cutter or marker, and means having parallelsurfaces andcontact-points coacting therewith to move the support relative to thecutter or marker for the purpose described.

8. A sliding bed, a rotary lens-support and a universal shaft connectedto rotate the support, in combination with a cutter or marker for thelens.

9. In combination, a sliding bed, a cutter or marker, a revolublesupport for the article to be cut or marked mounted on the bed, incombination with a universal shaft connected to rotate the support andhaving one end movable with the sliding bed, and means to rotate theshaft.

10. In a lens cutting or marking machine; a lens-form and alaterally-slidable rotary lens-support having a graduated center pieceto indicate the direction of the major axis of the lens-form, and acutter or marker for the lens controlled by the form.

11. In combination with a rotary lens-support, a rotary member connectedto rotate 'with the support, a lens-form detachably mounted on saidmember, means movable independently of said form and member for holdingthe form in operative position and a cutter actuated by the form for thepurpose described.

12. In a lens cutting or marking device, a rock-shaft, a cutter-supportsecured to the rock-shaft'and having an independent rocking movementrelatively thereto, clamping means for holding the cutter-support in itsadjusted position and a rotary lens-form cooperating with means to holdthe cutter in a plane tangential to the forming-surface of the form.

13. In combination with a rotary form having parallel forming-surfaces,an oscillating bracket, a rock-shaf t mounted on the bracket, a cutteror marker secured to the rock-shaft, and means mounted on the rock-shaftand engaged with the surfaces at this point for oscillating the bracketand rocking the shaft in the bracket.

14. In combination, a rotary lens support, a rotary form, alaterally-yielding lens holder,means to actuate the support and form, acutter or marker, and means actuated by the form for controlling theposition of the cutter.

15. In combination with a rotary lens-support, a holder for the lensyieldingly mounted to move laterally and endwise for the purposedescribed.

16. A sliding bed carrying a rotary lenssupport, a lens form and cutter,and driving means for the form flexibly connected to the bed to rotatethe support.

17. A sliding bed carrying a rotary lenssupport, alens form and cutter,driving means for the form flexibly connected to the bed to rotate thesupport, a crankplate connected to slide the bed, and graduated meanscoacting with the plate to indicate the position of the bed relative tothe cutter.

18. A rotary form and cutter, a rotary lenssupport having graduationsthereon and provided with an independently rotary center piece marked tolocate the position of the optical axis of the lens relative to thegraduations, and means to shift the support independently of the formand cutter.

19. In combination, a rotary form, a cutter, a rotary lens-supportmovable laterally, and provided with an independently movable membermarked to locate the position of the optical axis of the lens.

20. In combination with a cutter, a rotary lens-form and a rotarylens-support, one of the parts being movable laterally to shift its axisof revolution relative to the other, for the purpose set forth.

21. In combination, a cutter, a rotary lensform, a revolublelens-support having a lateral movement, means to move the supportlaterally, and additional means to indicate the size of the lens to becut.

22. A' rotary lens-form, a rotary lens-support, means to move thelens-support laterally, driving means for rotating the form and support,a cutter, and a laterally-yielding lens-holder for the purposedescribed.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day'of October,1901.

CHAUNOEY WV. HOWLAND.

Witnesses:

LEWIS W. KEYEs, A. L. OASTLER.

